Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I’m a tortoise. What are you?

I suspect that we writers have to accept our writing processes in the same way we accept our height, or our noses…

My process is slow… and I don’t seem to be able to do anything about it. On days when I write fast (which are few and far between) I nearly always end up pulling a third of it out again next day, because I’ve gone down a wrong track, or set the scene in the wrong place, or from the wrong point of view.

I know other writers can fly through a first draft, writing thousands of words a day and then spend time picking it apart and rebuilding, rewriting. Sounds fabulous. I’ve tried it and it just doesn’t work for me.

I have to move forward in slow, careful, steps. Each morning I reread what I wrote the day before and I add extra details, layers and refinements … and then I push forward.

The thing I’ve learned to accept is… it doesn’t matter. We each have our own rhythm and pace.

4 comments:

It amazes me at how many people think they can write...until they sit down and try to do it. Whatever way works for you and the other lovely writers that craft such great stories, you have my respect for the knowledge in grammar alone. When I think of a tortoise, I think "Slow and steady wins the race." ;)

I think oce you know yourself and your preferred style, it is such a positive theng. Everyone is different. I work best under pressure: I must have ongoing behind-thinks though because when I go to whatever I am working on, I seem to be well prepared!!!